Page 9 of Vicious Princess
Despite how easy it would be for me to take them on without tapping into my power, I’m curious enough to open my senses.
The first hit of emotions radiating from fae is always the most startling. I take a long, deep breath, steadying myself, and try to separate what’s mine from what’s theirs.
Blue Pants pulsates with hatred so hot and red, my cheeks warm even more. But there is a small sprinkle of cool fear coming off him. That’s why he clings to the hatred so badly. The third thug is so afraid, the muscles in my throat freeze for a moment.
At least someone has good enough self-preservation senses in this trio, because Sparkle Boy’s wicked amusement and curiosity tingles on the tips of my fingers.
I lock gazes with Sparkle Boy and narrow my eyes at him.What is wrong with this guy?
A heartbeat later, he straightens his back and blinks rapidly. The tingly amusement and curiosity changes to awareness that washes over me from head to toe like a cold ocean wave.
“This isn’t very gentlemanly of us, buddies,” Sparkle Boy says to his comrades, voice light as a feather. There’s a dazzling smile on his lips. But he’s not fooling me. His cool consciousness is seeping into my bones. I flex my hands. “How about we leave this one alone, Herafin?”
Blue Pants completely disregards his words. His whole focus is on me and me alone.
He blinks. I close off my senses. Another blink. I put one of my feet closer to Blue Pants. A third blink. I wrap my fingers around his wrist.Blink.I twist his wrist with a force he doesn’t expect, and he groans.
The blade clings to the stone pavement between us.
With a grunt, he swings his free fist at me. I twirl around him, dodging the clumsy swing, and with my heel, I kick the back of his leg. He stumbles, losing his balance. I hook my foot over his ankle. He falls forwards, greeting the stone pavement with his nose, and I twist his arm behind his back.
A scream tears out of his throat when the shoulder pops from its socket. It’s such a thrilling sound.
I love it.
I let go of his limp arm and turn my attention to the other two. The nameless thug swings a punch at me, cursing me in Ekiosh with the nastiest words I’ve ever heard. Some I have not heard before and don’t understand. I take a step back, dodging the fist, and grab the back of his arm.
His eyes widen in terror when I push his elbow inwards, towards him. The bones crack easily, and he screams like an animal being butchered.
Cradling his arm close to his chest, he stumbles away from me. He even whines. I scrunch my nose in disgust and whirl around on my heel to face Sparkle Boy.
One more to go. Then I can go mind my own business.
Sparkle Boy watches me with awe. As if he’s witnessing magic unfold in front of his eyes.
I grab him by the wide white shirt and slam his back to the wall behind him so hard his bones rattle. He blinks a few times, startled.
I press the blade of my knife to his exposed moon-pale neck. When instead of cursing me or snarling at me, he huffs a laugh, I’m the one who’s startled.
“You’re about to die, and you find itfunny?” I sneer at him, bewildered by his illogical reaction.
“Admit it, the circumstances are quite funny.”
I blink, searching his face. His eyelids are heavy, his long dark eyelashes almost brushing the top of his high cheekbones. He has a look of a man enjoying himself. Not one who’s on the verge of death.
I push the blade closer to his skin. Maybe he doesn’t understand just how easy it would be for me to kill him.
Maybehe thinks I wouldn’t dare.
“Is that a kink of yours or something? Flirting with death?”
“Flirting with stunningly dangerous women is definitely my thing,” he says. A wicked smile blooms on his face. “It’s a good death, to go down at the hand of woman who could have been the love of my life.” He winks at me.
I’ve seen men do many things when faced with the sharper end of my blades—curse me, snarl, cry, beg, and try to fight back. One even tried to bite my hand like a rabid dog. At least two wet themselves from fear. But none had attempted to flirt their way out of death.
“How do I get to Bussek?” I ask.
Slowly, he lifts his hand and points a long finger with two silver rings stacked together, aimed at the south. “Spuleb and Bussek are very close together. I can see why one might have gotten lost their first time in Jaakii,” he says. “Would you want me to show you the way to Bussek? I know the city better than the back of my hand. I’m sure I could be a finer guide than that moldy map of yours.”
